Local pawnshops in Pasay City are encouraged by the city council to grant lower interests rates to those who will pawn their personal items during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The appeal came after Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano requested the council to pass a resolution that would help Pasayenos cope up with their finances.
“Marami ang nawalan ng hanapbuhay dahil sa enhanced community quarantine, at marami na rin sa kanila ang napipilitang magsangla ng kanilang naipundar para lamang may pambili ng mga basic commodities,” Calixto Rubiano said.
In a resolution, the council noted that community quarantine has deprived many families who belong to the working and informal sectors to earn and buy basic needs as well as pay for their house rent and utilities.
“This has forced them to pawn their personal properties,” said Pasay Councilor Arnel Regino Arceo.
He said the council resolution is consistent with Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
Councilor Arceo cited Section 4 (n) of the law which states that the “…The President shall have the power to adopt the following temporary emergency measures to respond to crisis bought by the pandemic…Ensure the availability of credit to the productive sectors of the economy…through measures such as but not limited to, lowering the effective lending rates of interest and reserve requirements of lending institutions.”
The city council has already passed several resolutions to ease the financial burden of its constituents.
Among these are the extension of the payment of taxes, rentals, and fees imposed by the local government, and an anti-hoarding measure.
It likewise deployed Mobile Palengke in coordination with the Department of Agriculture. (Dhel Nazario)